A Satellite of Our Own

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Bangladesh’s first foray into the global space economy is scheduled for its big debut on May 7. Dubbed a “national pride” by officials, Bangabandhu-1 – the country’s first commercial geostationary satellite — was originally slated for launch on Victory Day, 16 December 2017. Essential to the government’s digital aspirations, the Tk. 2,500 crore satellite project goes hand in hand with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s other technological initiatives, which include providing telecommunication access to remote coastal areas, the haor basin, and the islands along the Bay of Bengal.

Global satellite technology has progressed beyond just improving access to worldwide TV or removing static from your daily phone call. Connectivity remains intimately linked with the ability of nations, organizations, and communities to confront economic and societal changes: from poverty alleviation to education; from a generation of livelihood opportunities for the geographically isolated to developing access to healthcare across locations and demographics. The global space economy is poised to grow to more than $1.1 trillion by 2040 and, as the government mulls over plans for another satellite, Bangabandhu-1 may just be Bangladesh’s first slice of the digital pie.

Investments and Beyond
With a total capacity of 1,600 megahertz, Bangabandhu-1’s payload comprises 40 transponders, of which 14 are in C-band (covering Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines) and 26 in Ku-band (covering Bangladesh and its islands on the Bay of Bengal, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines).
Weighing in at 3.7 metric tons, Bangabandhu-1 was manufactured by the Franco-Italian aerospace juggernaut, Thales Alenia Space, as part of a $248 million deal with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Its orbital slot (at a longitude of 199.1 degrees East) was acquired from the Russian satellite company, Intersputnik, for $28 million in January 2015. The project’s total cost stands at Tk. 2,500 crores with Tk. 1,500 crore coming from the HSBC and the rest of the Bangladeshi government. Despite the hefty bill, State Minister of Information Tarana Halim predicts the satellite to break even within seven years of its launch.

With a mission lifespan of 15 years, Bangabandhu-1 promises to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign satellites for its connectivity and media needs. At present, Bangladesh rents bandwidth from foreign operators, costing the national exchequer Tk. 14 million a year in transmission fees. Once operational, the satellite will become a significant source of revenue through the sale of 20 of its transponders in the international market, with the remaining 20 deployed domestically. According to BTRC’s estimates, about 70% of the satellite’s revenue will come from leasing capacity to neighboring countries. Indonesia and the Philippines have already expressed interest.
Launching on SpaceX’s new Falcon 9 Block 5 rockets, the satellite will require a month and a half of tuning before it is ready for use in August. Long-term control of the satellite will be transferred to ground stations in Gazipur’s Joydebpur and Rangamati’s Betbunia, both manned by 30 trained employees of the BTRC and the newly-formed Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Ltd (BCSCL). Officials from Thales Alenia Space will also be present for the next three years to monitor and supervise operations. Until August, however, Bangladesh will continue to rent capacity from the South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9), operated by the Indian Space Research Association (ISRO).

With a total capacity of 1600 megahertz, Bangabandhu-1 is designed to offer video services for Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcasting, e-learning, telemedicine, agriculture, etc.; voice service for cellular backhaul and disaster recovery among others; and data service for internet, SCADA, SOHO, and business-to-business VSAT. Three of the 40 responders will be deployed for use by broadcasting channels.

No One Left Behind
Internet connectivity might be near-ubiquitous in Dhaka but nearly 772 unions and haors have yet to bridge the digital divide.
Spanning across 47 Upazilas in seven districts, the haor region remains cut off from the country’s digital revolution. The basin, however, contributes to more than 16.5% of the nation’s rice production and between 6% to 8% of the GDP. Over 2 million of the region’s inhabitants have little to no road access, with communities stranded for over six months each year. Key socio-economic indicators, such as education rates and quality of healthcare, fall well below the national average. According to Itna Upazila Education Officer Parvin Akter, poor local infrastructure means that most children do not go to school for around six months a year, primarily during the monsoon season. In 2014, the rate of primary school enrollment in haor areas was 71% (as opposed to the national average at 97.7%), with a school dropout rate of 44%. Healthcare in the basin is especially wanting. An inhabitant of Ulua village in Mithamain would have to travel 12 km to get to the nearest hospital, with at least part of the journey conducted by boat.

For many such locations, Bangabandhu-1 can help ensure that current and future development initiatives are more comprehensive, further reaching, and more nimble in responding to local events. E-learning initiatives will prove essential to combating school dropout rates and guarantee uninterrupted education even during the monsoon. Satellite connectivity can provide support tools for medical professionals, allowing them to order medication and coordinate patient transportation. Designated health care volunteers in remote villages can also teleconference with medical specialists elsewhere to provide emergency first aid. E-commerce opportunities will finally allow farmers and traders in isolated communities to connect with the larger market beyond.

Weighing in at 3.7 metric tons, Bangabandhu-1 was manufactured by the Franco-Italian aerospace juggernaut, Thales Alenia Space, as part of a $248 million deal with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). Its orbital slot (at a longitude of 199.1 degrees East) was acquired from the Russian satellite company, Intersputnik, for $28 million in January 2015. 

From Early Warning to Early Recovery
Ranking 6th in the Global Climate Risk Index 1997-2016, Bangladesh is particularly exposed to natural hazards due to its geographical location. Climate change threatens to increase the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, further complicating the disaster management scenario. Satellite technology will be key to the establishment of timely and effective disaster management and has already proven instrumental in the design, deployment, and monitoring of humanitarian interventions around the world.

For a country as disaster-prone as Bangladesh, greater connectivity, particularly for remote and vulnerable communities in haors and coastal areas along the Bay of Bengal, would ensure the establishment of effective response mechanisms, including fast and reliable means of information dissemination. The importance of satellite-powered early warning systems in reducing the impact of natural hazard-induced disasters.

Emergency telecommunications are imperative in coordinating effective relief efforts between affected populations, the government, and humanitarian organizations. However, destruction of terrestrial communication infrastructure in post-disaster contexts severely limits the effectiveness of relief operations, presenting massive logistical and communication hurdles for first responders. Satellite technology is thus the only reliable alternative to terrestrial communications.

Satellite connectivity can and should also be leveraged for Continuity of Operation, or COOP, planning, to ensure critical sites including hospitals, pharmacies, and government offices remain online to support vital operations, such as rescue coordination and responses to emergency requests.

Despite the creation of the Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Ltd. (BCSCL) to monitor business generated from the satellite, the country still lacks proper regulatory guidelines to manage the sale, distribution, and use of its services. At present, only Beximco and Buyer Media Ltd. have a DTH license, prompting concerns about a telecast monopoly as the service can only be provided by license holders. BTRC Chairman, Shahjahan Mahmood, stated that the license was awarded to the two companies years ago, with the telecom regulator having little say in the matter. Recently, Beximco and Buyer Media Ltd. have also sought to lease 12 of the 40 transponders to sell frequencies to local TV channels. The need for a regulatory framework becomes ever more crucial to the government’s plans to sell frequencies to other countries.

While Bangabandhu-1 and its potential successors can be instrumental in providing more effective and comprehensive solutions for sustainable development, government approaches remain primarily focused on the satellite’s commercial promise. Effective cooperation between the government, civil society, and private sector is essential to chalking out how increased satellite connectivity can be woven into the sustainable development agenda.

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